International Society of Bionic Engineering-Publications

Publications

MoreAnnouncement

First Announcement of the International Youth Conference of Bionic Science and …

2023-12-22

The International Youth Conference of Bionic Science and Engineering 2024 (IYCBSE 2024), hosted by the ISBE Youth Commission and jointly organized by Southeast University, Nanjing University of Aeron…

CASE collection for the ISBE website

2023-10-18

In our technical world humans continuously develop the technologies and systems to make life more comfortable and easier. Bionics, the field of translating ideas and concepts found in nature to pract…

Home > Publications > Recent Papers > content

Publications

[2018-Vol.15-Issue 1]“Fluidic Diode” for Passive Unidirectional Liquid Transport Bioinspired by the Spermathecae of Fleas

Post: 2018-03-15 13:41 View:2067

Journal of Bionic Engineering

Volume 15, Issue 1, October 2018, Pages 42-56

Gerda Buchberger^1*, Alexander Kogler², Agnes Weth¹, Richard Baumgartner², Philipp Comanns³,

Siegfried Bauer², Werner Baumgartner¹

1. Institute of Biomedical Mechatronics, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Altenberger Str. 69, A-4040 Linz, Austria

2. Institute of Experimental Physics, Department of Soft Matter Physics, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Altenberger Str. 69, A-4040 Linz, Austria

3. Institute of Biology II, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 3, D-52074 Aachen, Germany

Abstract We present a device for passive unidirectional liquid transport. The capillary channels used are bioinspired by the shape of the spermathecae (receptaculum seminis) of rabbit fleas (Spilopsyllus cuniculi) and rat fleas (Xenopsylla cheopis). The spermatheca is an organ of female fleas that stores sperm until suitable conditions to lay eggs are found. We translated and multiplied the natural form and function of a spermatheca to create a continuous capillary system from which we designed our microfluidic device based directly on the model from nature. Applying the Young-Laplace equation, we derived a theoretical description of local liquid transport, which enables model-guided design. We arranged the bioinspired capillaries in parallel and engraved them in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) plates by CO2 laser ablation. The fabricated structures transport soapy water passively (i.e., without external energy input) in the forward direction at velocities of about 1 mm•s−1 while halting the liquid fronts completely in the backward direction. The bioinspired capillary channels are capable of unidirectional liquid transport against gravity. Distance and velocity measurements prove the feasibility of the concept. Unidirectional passive liquid transport might be advantageous in technical surfaces for liquid management, for instance, in biomedical microfluidics, lab-on-chip, lubrication, electronics cooling and in micro-analysis devices.

Key words：liquid diode wetting passive unidirectional liquid transport capillary bioinspired

Full text is available at http://jbe.jlu.edu.cn/EN/Y2018/V15/I1/42